As Gaza aid caravan leaves England, 9 supporters seized by ‘anti-terror’ forces

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"According to Israeli media, 9 British activists on their way to join a humanitarian aid caravan to Gaza were seized by British ‘anti-terror’ police, along with the aid in their vehicles and the vehicles themselves. Most of them were released without charge, and three are still being held.

The caravan they were trying to join left for Palestine from London Saturday morning, led by British Parliament Member George Galloway. The group calls itself ‘Lifeline for Gaza’, and consists of over a hundred vehicles, including a dozen ambulances, fire trucks, a boat, and one million pounds worth of humanitarian aid.

They are driving from Britain to Gaza via France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt, and plan to cross the Rafah border from Egypt into Gaza on March 2.

Three vehicles which were travelling from Blackburn, north of London, to join the caravan, were stopped by British ‘anti-terror’ police in a massive operation. But police did not say why they detained the activists, or what they were being charged with. Their vehicles had banners on them reading, "Stop Killing Children, Free Palestine" and "From Blackburn (U.K.) to Gaza."

The massive aid caravan was organized in just four weeks by a number of groups, including Viva Palestina, the Stop the War Coalition, the Respect Party, the Anglo-Arab Organization, several British trade unions and a large number of Muslim organizations.

As the caravan departed from Britain, MP Galloway said to the British Sky News, "There is an intifada sweeping Britain. It is a massive and peaceful movement in support of the beleaguered population of Gaza and Palestine. It is happening everywhere, but is especially strong in the north of England and especially among young Muslims."

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Anger over East Lancashire terror swoop

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"MUSLIM community leaders have been left shocked and angry after anti-terror police swooped on East Lancashire aid vehicles bound for Gaza.

Nine men were arrested by officers under the Terrorism Act 2006 after three vehicles were stopped on the M65 on Friday evening.

Last night police were given four more days to question three of the men, aged 36, 29 and 36, after releasing the other six without charge.

It has now emerged that the aid in the vehicles, including children’s toys and medicines, had been collected by the Muslim community in Blackburn.

Today the Lancashire Telegraph can reveal five of the six released men were prominent figures in Blackburn’s Muslim community, believed to be from the Little Harwood area.

They had been chosen to go overland to Gaza as part of a 100 vehicle convoy, which left London on Saturday, led by MP George Galloway.

The three men still being questioned, who are from Burnley, were said to have been given a last-minute lift with the group as a favour.

They were only due to go as far as London.

Coun Salim Mulla, senior vice-chair of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, said: “I don’t know the three people from Burnley but we received a call where we were asked if the other lads could join them to drive down to London.

“They were not going to Gaza."

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[Scurrilous]

1. Gaza aid convoy arrives in Spain

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"A convoy of 100 vehicles of humanitarian aid with a group of peace activists has arrived in Spain on its way to the besieged Gaza Strip.

The convoy, including 12 ambulances and a fire engine, left London on Saturday and will travel 8,000 km (5,000 miles) through France, Spain and North Africa, crossing from Egypt into Gaza through Rafah border-crossing in early March."

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=85953§ionid=351021701

[Scurrilous]

2. Galloway seeks inquiry into convoy arrests

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"The Respect MP George Galloway has called for an investigation after police stopped a convoy taking aid, toys and medical supplies to Gaza and arrested nine people under anti-terror laws.

All nine men arrested on the M65 near Preston last Friday have been released without charge, but the organisers of the Viva Palestina convoy, which is headed by Galloway, said that aid donations dropped by 80% after news of the arrests.

Police stopped three vehicles and arrested six men from Blackburn and three from Burnley under the Terrorism Act. The 100-vehicle convoy left without them and is now in Morocco.

"Nine innocent people were prevented by the police from joining our convoy," said Galloway. "The timing of the operation is seen locally as an attempt to smear and intimidate the Muslim community, and I must say they seem to be right. Photographs of the high-profile snatch were immediately fed to the press to maximise the newsworthiness of the smear."

Galloway said he was writing to the chief constable of Lancashire and the home secretary asking for an explanation."

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Moroccan-Algerian border opens for UK's Lifeline convoy to Gaza

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"Algeria and Morocco will open their borders exceptionally on Thursday for the UK-backed Lifeline convoy headed by Member of Parliament George Gallaway.

The convoy had started its journey on Saturday and passed through France, Spain and Morocco, and is expected to arrive in Algeria to pass through to Tunisia, Libya and Egypt to Gaza through the southern Rafah crossing.

The Lifeline convoy was established by the British Popular Campaign Against the Siege, which is also supported by several Islamic organizations in the UK, as well as the Stop the War Coalition and the Arab-British organization.

It is expected that the journey will take pass eight thousand kilometers before reaching Gaza two weeks after departing London."

http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&Do=&ID=35915

[oberliner]

3. No charges for Gaza convoy trio

Three men arrested by counter-terrorism officers as they travelled to join a Gaza aid convoy have been released without charge.

Two vans and an ambulance were travelling to London when they were stopped on the M65 near Preston, Lancashire, on Friday.

The vehicles were released to continue their journey earlier this week.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/7900163.stm

[Scurrilous]

4. Gaza Convoy - Safely Into Tunisia

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"Early this evening the convoy crossed into Tunisia to the tears and cheers of the massive Algerian crowds who waived them off at the border crossing. The Algerian consul as well as some officials wished them all the best for the remainder of their long journey.

The convoy will not be travelling via Tunis. The next stop for the night will be in GAFSA where hotel accommodation has apparently been arranged. They are driving under police escort and everyone is doing well, reflecting on crossing Algeria - the second largest country in Africa.

I have just received a first-hand account of the massive public support the convoy received from its crossing the borders to the town of Gafsa where people have lined the streets and greeted the Viva Palestina convoy with cheers, flags, water, juice, dates, food...

Even at this time of the night, the town is buzzing as it receives the heroes who are a symbol of hope to a just cause.

The next stop will be the borders with Libya unless the convoy decides to take a well deserved day off."

http://pacificfreepress.com/news/1/3770-gaza-convoy-sagely-into-tunisia.html

[legin]

5. Allready the damage has been done

You 'do something'.

You get arrested for 'doing that something' but then later released.

A report of the arrest is released to the newspapers.

Your 'doing something' is thereby flagged to the general population as 'deviant' behaviour.

[Scurrilous]

6. 'Viva Palestina' continues Gaza journey

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"The Gaza-bound aid convoy 'viva palestina' carrying humanitarian supplies from Britain toward the Gaza Strip has arrived in Libya.

The convoy departed from London loaded with medicine, food, clothes and toys for the Gazans who are living under difficult conditions due to a 19-month Israeli blockade of the Palestinian enclave.

The trucks, set off for the journey in Britain, have already passed through France, Spain and several North African countries, said Press TV's correspondent Yvonne Ridley who is accompanying 'viva palestina' on its journey to Gaza.

The convoy includes a fire engine, 12 ambulances, a boat and trucks packed with medicines, cash, tools, clothes, blankets and gifts for children living under the Israeli blockade."

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